This article introduces the seven mainstream fabrics for swim trunks available globally, which all purchasable fabrics online or offline are based on, or their variants. If you are a wholesaler or a brand operator of beach shorts, this article can help you better understand the products you manage and assist you in avoiding detours during the production process.
If the description of the fabric is limited to “100% polyester” or “95% polyester 5% nylon,” it doesn’t provide much useful information. This is because even fabrics made of the same polyester can have completely different effects due to the thickness of the yarn and post-processing techniques such as washing.
Therefore, understanding the unique properties of each fabric is crucial for producing high-quality swim trunks. From durability to comfort, and their environmental impact, each fabric has specific advantages and applications. The following sections will detail these seven mainstream fabrics, including their physical characteristics, benefits, and most suitable use scenarios, to assist businesses in navigating the complex landscape of swim trunk materials.
Peach Skin Fabric
Peach skin fabric is a type of fabric primarily made from polyester fibers, which undergoes a sueding process to create a layer of delicate, peach-like fuzz on its surface, hence the name “peach skin fabric.” This material is characterized by its soft touch, fine texture, good luster, and resistance to fading, along with a certain degree of waterproofing. Peach skin fabric not only has good breathability but also exhibits good wrinkle resistance and shape retention, making it widely used in clothing, home textiles, hats, shoes, and other fields.
This article is a more precise introduction to Peach Skin Fabric.
Composition: Polyester
Price: Cheap
GSM: About 95-100 in swim trunks, and we use an upgraded one that is 105
Hand feel: Peach skin fabric is divided into brushed and unbrushed types. The brushed peach skin has a surface that’s been specially treated to create a layer of fine fluff, making its hand feel closer to cotton. In contrast, the unbrushed peach skin has a smooth hand feel, akin to ordinary polyester fabric.
Stretch: Very little
Feature:
- It offers great value for money. For example, solid-colored peach skin fabric swim trunks cost less than €1.5 EUR to make, but they can sell for over €6-10 EUR in European stores.
- Moisture-wicking and breathability.
- Good shape retention, easy to wash, and quick-dryingo
Pongee
Pongee, also known as Spring Asia fabric, is a lightweight woven fabric typically made from silk or imitation silk polyester fibers. Its main features include a smooth surface, soft hand feel, and certain windproof and waterproof properties. The weaving method of Pongee fabric ensures good breathability and moisture absorption while maintaining strong wear resistance and wrinkle resistance.
Composition: Polyester
Price: Cheap
GSM: About 90-95
Hand feel: Soft, but also prone to wrinkling
Stretch: A Little
Feature:
- The price is on the same level as peach skin fabric, very affordable.
- The fabric is very lightweight, breathable, and quick-drying.
4 Way Stretch Fabric
4 Way Stretch Fabric refers to a highly flexible material that can stretch in both the warp and weft directions as well as diagonally, allowing for freedom of movement and a comfortable fit. This type of fabric typically incorporates elastane, spandex, or a similar stretchy synthetic fiber blended with other materials to achieve its elastic properties. The key characteristic of 4 Way Stretch Fabric is its ability to return to its original shape after being stretched, which makes it ideal for athletic wear, swimwear, leggings, and other garments requiring a high degree of flexibility and comfort. This fabric’s stretchability in all directions enhances its adaptability to the body’s movements, making it a popular choice for performance-oriented apparel and activities demanding a wide range of motion.
Composition: Polyester + Spandex
Price: Normal
GSM: Around 120
Hand feel: Soft and elsatic
Stretch: Very good
Feature:
- A very popular fabric on Amazon.
- Highly elastic and comfortable; swim trunks made from this fabric are so comfortable that they can also be worn as pajamas.
Memory Like Fabric
Memory Like Fabric refers to a type of textile designed to retain its shape and creases, mimicking the properties of memory fabrics without being identical in composition or performance. Unlike traditional memory fabrics, which are typically made from materials with inherent shape-retention properties like polyester blends containing polyurethane, Memory Like Fabrics might not rely solely on specific fibers for their characteristic look and feel. Instead, these fabrics might use innovative weaving or finishing techniques, or a unique blend of fibers, to achieve a “memory” effect that allows the fabric to spring back to its original form after being stretched, folded, or creased.
This fabric is appreciated for its ability to maintain a crisp, tailored appearance with minimal care, making it an excellent choice for garments that benefit from structured silhouettes, such as jackets, skirts, and pants. Additionally, Memory Like Fabric often offers a level of convenience in care and wear, as it tends to resist wrinkles and can sometimes reduce the need for frequent ironing or steaming. This makes it a popular choice for both casual wear and more formal attire, providing a blend of style, comfort, and low maintenance.
Composition: Polyester + Spandex
Price: Normal
GSM: around 130-135
Hand feel: Stiff, “bone-like”
Stretch: Moderate, resistant to wrinkling
Feature:
- Resistant to wrinkling, and wrinkles can be restored.
- Slightly thicker than average fabric.
Taslan
Taslan fabric is a high-tech and versatile material widely used in outdoor clothing and sports gear. It is made through a special textile process that allows nylon or polyester fibers to mimic the natural hand feel and appearance of cotton, while retaining the synthetic fibers’ inherent benefits of durability, water resistance, and quick-drying properties. This makes Taslan an excellent choice for garments that require both comfort and performance in challenging environments.
Composition: Polyester, or Polyester&Spandex mixture
Price: High
Hand feel: Softer
Stretch: A little
Feature:
- Polyester Taslan may have slight wrinkles.
- Nylon Taslan cannot be digitally printed; nylon taslan tends to fade.
- Widely used in fashion.
Polyester Taffeta
Polyester taffeta is a fabric made from polyester filament yarn. It is known for its durability, wash resistance, colorfastness, and chemical resistance, making it widely used in everyday items such as umbrellas, tents, various types of jackets, and more, with polyester taffeta being the primary material.
Polyester filament, created from purified terephthalic acid (PTA) or dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) and ethylene glycol (MEG) through esterification or transesterification and polycondensation reactions, results in the polymer polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This is then spun and post-processed into fibers. Polyester filament refers to fibers that are kilometers in length, wound into bundles.
The characteristic of polyester filament is its ability to resist chemicals and frequent washing, reducing the likelihood of garments fading and discoloring. Therefore, it is used in hotel uniforms, stone-washed denim clothing, sportswear, and children’s clothing. Compared to rayon, polyester filament is more durable.
Composition: Polyester and a little Spandex
Price: Moderately expensive
Hand feel: Smooth and crisp
Stretch: No
Feature:
- Especially vibrant colors
- Super light and smooth
Nylon Taffeta
Nylon taffeta is a lightweight, smooth woven fabric known for its fine weave and crisp texture. Made from nylon fibers, this fabric boasts several notable qualities including durability, resistance to wrinkles, and quick-drying capabilities. Nylon taffeta’s strength and ability to repel water make it an ideal choice for outdoor and performance wear, such as raincoats, windbreakers, and lightweight jackets. Additionally, its sleek surface and slight sheen lend a luxurious appearance, making it suitable for evening wear and formal garments. Due to its tight weave, nylon taffeta is also used in the production of parachutes and other applications where strong, lightweight fabric is necessary. Its versatility extends to home décor, where it’s used in draperies and linens, highlighting the fabric’s wide range of applications.
Composition: Nylon and a little Polyester
Price: Expensive
Hand feel: Light
Stretch: No
Feature:
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The fabric is very stiff and holds its shape well.
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It offers a unique hand feel and is widely used in fashion.
Conclusion
These seven types of fabric are commonly found in the market, each with its own unique features. You can make the right choice based on your brand’s positioning and price range. Knowing about fabrics will greatly facilitate your communication with suppliers.
As a professional swim trunks factory, we can provide samples of all the above-mentioned fabrics. If you have any questions related to these materials, feel free to contact us at any time.